School Shopping
Every year one of the greatest burdens on many families is the responsibility that they have to provide everything needed for their children to attend school as mandated by law through the sixth grade. For many, making that a reality is an impossibility.
Supplies that include everything from uniforms, to socks and shoes, notebooks to backpacks and pencils, can accumulate in costs that prohibit many families, especially the large number of single mom families with multiple children at school age, from being able to provide the required list of items at the beginning of each school year.
There is one family in particular in our neighborhood that struggles with this very concern. The mom is a joyful, thankful mom, who not only cares for several of her own younger school aged children, but is also raising her grandchildren while their mother is away in prison. The oldest of the at-home school kids is an incredibly smart, conscientious, studious young girl named Reichel. Reichel has always been faithful to our English classes, and carries a large burden for her family along with her school goals.
It was Reichel that caught the eye and heart of one of the chaperones of the dance team that came and ministered two years ago. When we took the dance missionaries to visit the homes of many of the kids who attended the dance camp week, Reichel’s family was front and center to greet them all into their tiny (really tiny) home with open arms and even bigger smiles. Deb, the chaperone, and Reichel had an immediate connection at the dance camp, and the home visit sealed the deal! They have been communicating and passing notes and letters back and forth ever since.
Thanks to Deb and her husband, Lindsey and I were able to join with them and take Reichel and her mom out for a day of shopping for all of the school supplies Reichel would need for that year! Not only did our combined efforts allow Reichel to check off her school supply list, but there was enough to provide for the youngest 2 who would be entering kindergarten this year as well and some food staples to boot!!!
We all shopped, chatted, laughed, and had an afternoon snack break together in one of the most wonderful days imaginable. Their consideration and thrifty-ness in guiding us to the best places to get the most bang for the buck and their continued gratitude just made it that much more fun. We chronicled as much as we could during the day so that those who had donated in support of the family’s education could be with us, even from afar.
The more children who can have support in their educations, the more opportunities they will have to rise above the situations that they are growing up in with hope for the great future that God has in store for them.
If you would like to help a child go to school, please click below. Donations given toward the purchase of school supplies will go directly to the children most in need, unless otherwise specified.